Method for treating tobacco



June 21, 1938. R. D. ToUToN 2,121,359

METHOD FOR` TREATING TOBACCO original Filed Feb. 15, 1930 2 sheets-sheet2 Panarea June 21, 193s PATENT OFFICE METHOD FOR TREATING TOBACCO RushD. Tonton, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Wm'ton Machine Company, Philadelphia.,lennsylvania Pa., a corporation oi' Original application February 13,1930, Serial Divided and this application June 21, 1933, Serial No.676,969

39 Claims.

This application is a division of a joint :application filed by theapplicant herein jointly with Harry P. Wurman, February 13, 1930, SerialNo. 428,022, which said application inadvertently contained claims forthe sole inventions of the applicants.

This invention relates to a method for treating tobacco and moreparticularly for conditioning tobacco in connection with the manufactureof cigars, cigarettes, etc.

As is well known tobacco is harvested, formed into hands or bunches, airdried and baled for convenience in shipment and storage. The baled.

tobacco as received by manufacturers, for example, of cigars, is in adry and brittle condition, in which it cannot be fabricated. The `drytobacco has been heretofore'generally conditioned for fabrication bydipping it into water, permitting the water to be absorbed by thetobacco and then fabricating the tobacco while in a moist state, underatmospheric conditions such that the major part of the moisture; derivedfrom the conditioning is retained.

In the conditioning of tobacco, it is desirable that the tobacco begiven the optimum moisture content, since its workability and subsequentflavor depends largely upon avoidance of a deiiciency or excess ofmoisture. However, tobacco is known to be of hygroscopic nature, thoughdifferent types will vary in hygroscopicity, hence it is necessary foroptimum results to carefully control the conditioning of tobacco and theatmospheric conditions under which it is fabricated.

'I'he methods heretofore used for conditioning tobacco, and especiallythe method generally used and involving dipping of the tobacco in water,are substantially unsatisfactory, since they do not operate to providethe tobacco with the optimum moisture content, are diicult to control,and deleteriously affect the tobacco in connection with its flavor,color, etc.

Now, it is the object of this invention to provide a method by whichtobacco may be conditioned with accuracy and assurance so `that thetobacco, of whatever type, when conditioned will contain the optimummoisture content for fabrication and for the maintenance of its flavorand color, and at the same time to provide a method which may be readilycarried out and controlled and an apparatus which will be simple andeconomical in construction and operation.

'In accordance with the method `embodying this invention, theconditioning of tobacco is effected, Without preliminary wetting, in amoisture containing, or humid, atmosphere at a temperature lower thanthat obtaining in the work room where the tobacco is fabricated.Further, in accordance with this invention motion is imparted to thetobacco in its conditioning. Desirably the tobacco is conditioned in airsubstantially saturated With moisture at the temperature obtaining `andis fabricated in air containing moisture substantially below thesaturation point at the temperature obtaining, which is higher than thatof the conditioning atmosphere.

In accordance with this invention motion is desirably imparted tothetobacco and` humid air is circulated about the tobacco. The tobaccomay be continuously or intermittently moved and subjected to streams ofhumid air during the conditioning period. When, as is desirable, thetobacco is in the form of hands during the conditioning the hands areopened up either manually, or as a result of the movement impartedto thetobacco, or by air circulation, or currents, or as a result of thecombined eifect of movement and air circulation or currents.

11n carrying the method embodying this invention into practice there isdesirably maintained a differential between the temperature of theconditioning room and that of the work room of within about the range0.5 F.-25 F. In the conditioning room the air will desirably containmoisture within about the range 90%-100% relative humidity and thetemperature will desirably be within about the range 40 F.80 F. withinwhich range the formation on the tobacco leaves of water globules suchas would tend to spot the leaves will be substantially retarded oravoided. The desired relative humidity in the conditioning room will bemaintained through the :admission thereto of suitably conditioned humidair. The VWork room will desirably be maintained at a temperature withinabout the range 65 lik-85 F., depending upon the temperature obtainingin the conditioning room, and the I air will desirably carry moisturewithin about the range 60 %-80% relative humidity.

`lis illustrative of the practical adaptation of bacco passes in itsmovement. The air introduced will maintain the air in the conditioningroom in motion as will the movement of the tobacco. ,The conditions ofmoisture 'and temperature in the conditioning room'may be maintained byproviding, in addition to the introduction of suitably conditioned humidair, a ilow of water over a wall, or walls, of the room, which may be ofporous materlal, and by providing a heating means, as a steam radiator,if necessary. The conditioning of the tobacco under the conditionsoutlined above. depending upon the type of tobacco treated, will requirefrom'about 4 hours to about 48 hours, though it will be appreciated thatunder variation of the conditions, which it will be understood arecontemplated as variable within wide limits, the time required forconditioning will vary over that given by way of example, de-Vpendingupontheparticulartypeoftobacco treated. v

When the tobacco has reached the proper condition under the conditionsoutlined above, that is, has absorbed the requisite amount of moisture,itisfabricatedinaworkroominwhichtheair isatatemperatureofabout'l F.andhasa moistln'e content of about 70% relative humidity, at thetemperature obtaining.

The practical adaptation of the method embodying this invention willappear in greater detail from the following description, with refer--encetotheaccompanyingdrawingaofapreferred embodiment of apparatus forcarrying out this invention.

In the drawings:

Figure lisadiagrammaticviewofan apparatm for conditioning fabricatingtobacco for carrying out this inveni:lon. v

Figure 2 is a side elwation showing details of construction of theapparatus.

'll'igureiiisacrosssectional-viewofthesubiect:

.is a fabricating room F, which may be connected with the conditioner,or may be remote therefrom. In the several figures e, e' indicate a pairof y suitably mounted shafts, spaced at a distance`fromeachotherandeachcarryingapairof sprockets f over which pass chainso, from which lugs h. extend laterally at intervals and to which in turnare connected strips i, as shown in Figure 4. The chains g and connectedstrips i form an endless carrier or conveyor which is driven by means ofa motor i connected to the shaft e through a reduction gearing k. Theupper reach of the conveyor is depressed toward the lower reach adjacentto the shaft e by passage of the chains under pulleys I carried by asuitably mounted idle shaft. while beyond the pulleys l the upper reachis raised away from the lower reach and supported by suitably supportedidle pulleys 1n. m'. Y

The strips i are each provided at intervals with resilient means forholding and supporting hands bacco, or the air may be introduced instreams adjacent the tobacco and through which the toof the stripbeneath supports p,which comprise4 circular members supported from legs.formed of wire, or embodied in a casting, secured to the side of thestrip beyond the ends-*ofthe springs o.

Adjacent to one sideof the conveyor formed by the chains a and strips iis positioned an air box or manifold q connected to the conditioningapparatus C, which may be of any efllcient type, though it is preferredthat it be of the type in which the fan forces rathery than draws theair, by means of a conduit r iltted with a butterfly valve s. The airbox is also connected by conduits Vt with air distributors u of a lengthand width desirably, though not necessarily, about equal to the lengthand width of the conveyor and positioned respectively above and belowthe upper and lower reaches of the conveyor and between the conveyor, asshown in Figure 3. The air distributors are provided with outlets v inthe line of travel of the tobacco holding and supporting means carriedby the conveyor, the outlets in the distributors positioned above andbelow the upper and lower reaches of the conveyor being provided intheir lower and upper sides respectively and the distributor positionedbetween the reaches being provided with outlets vinbothsldes,allasshowninFigure 3.

A pipe or conduit w is led from the air box q and extended transverselyof the conveyor adjacent to its line of passage over sprockets f, the

pipe being provided with nozzles :r directed toward and in line with theline of travel of the tobacco holding and supporting means on theconveyor, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

It will be understood that the purpose of the conditioning apparatus isto supply suitably conditioned air at the' temperature desired and hencethat the apparatus may supply or extract moisture to or from airsupplied to it. Likewise, under certain conditions the available airsupply may be required to be cooled, while under other conditions it maybe required to be heated to obtain the desired temperature.

' The apparatus described may, if desired, be provided with means forvarying the relative humidity of the air supplied to the tobacco, or theamount of humid air, when the tobacco has been fully conditioned. Asillustrative. for example, the butteriiy valve s in the conduit rleading from the humidifier to the air box is provided with an arm y towhich is connected a wire z passed over a pair of pulleys 2 andconnected to a frame 3 by which, for example, the smaller guide rolls1n' are carried beneath the upper reaches of chains g. The weight of theframe 3 and rolls m' is counterbalanced by a weight 4 -attached to army, so that normally the arm is positioned with the butterily valve opento the desired extent. As the tobacco takes up moisture, the weighttending to operate arm y will increase and the counterweight is soregulated that when the requisite moisture has been absorbed by thetobacco, the additional weight thereof will cause frame 3 to fallagainst the action of the counterwelght and shut ofi the butterflyvalve, thus shutting oif the supply of moisture to the tobacco andsuspending the conditioning. Alternatively, a valve 5 provided in thewater supply pipe i to the humidifier is provided with an arm lconnected to a pair of solenolds I and 9 connected to a source of power,as a battery il and respectively to terminals il and I2 of a two wayswitch, the movable element I3 of which is connected to the source ofpower u and which supports a container Il adapted to hold tobacco I6.The element I3 may, for example, be a lever fulcrumed at a point i5 andbalanced so that it will contact with the contact l2 and cause thesolenoid 9 to be energized when the tobacco in container I4 isunconditioned and so that under the increased weight of moisture.absorbed by the tobacco when it is conditioned, it

will contact with contact Il and cause solenoid l to be energized. Thesolenoid 9, when energized, positionsvalve 5 to permit the passage ofwater to the humidier while the solenoid 8, when energized, positionsthe valves to decrease thefwater supply. Hence the supply of moisture tothe tobacco Ion the carrier or conveyor will be shut oil when thetobacco is fully conditioned, since the condition of the sample incontainer Il is typical of that of the tobacco on the carrier.

The carrying out of the method embodying this invention will, it isbelieved, be understood in connectionwith the description of theoperation of the apparatus above described.

The room A, containing the apparatus above described, as has beenindicated, is maintained at a temperature within about the range 40 F.80F., and preferably at about 65 F., it being contemplated that thetobacco contained in the room A will be fabricated in a work room, asthe room F the temperature of which is from 0.5 F. to about 25 F.,higher than that in the room A. Desirably the temperature in the workroom is maintained about 5 F. above that mainthe absorption of moisturefrom the air by the tobacco under treatment, radiation losses, etc. Theair in the'work room will have a higher temperature and a relativehumidity substantially below the saturation point, say for example,

labout 70% relative humidity.

Assuming now that the conditions of temperature and relative humidity ofthe air in the room A is as described above, say relatively saturatedwith moisture at a tnperature of F. and that hands of dry tobacco I1have been applied to the carrier or conveyor, as illustrated in Figure4, from an inspection of which it will be noted that the butts of theleaves are engaged by the springs o, while the leaves are supported bythe supporting means p, the carrier is set in motion by starting motor9', which acts to drive the conveyor slowly in the direction of thearrows, Figure 2.

vAs the conveyor passes over the sprockets j, it

will be noted that humid air is projected into the hands from the pipeu, acting to open the hands or spread the leaves, at the same timepassage of the conveyor about sprockets f and down under the roll lcauses the hands to be opened up as though they were gently shaken. Inthe passage of the tobacco around the roll f, the tobacco hands aresubjected to a stream of conditioned air, issuing from the nozzles :cextending from the pipe w, and directed'to strike the hands of tobaccolaterally on one side of the hands. In the continued travel of theconveyor, the leaves or the hands of tobacco on the upper reach of theconveyor are subjected to humid air projected against or into themthrough the outlets v from the upper air distributor u, while at thesame time humid air is projected against the butts of the leaves fromthe outlets on the `'upper side of the central distributor u. As theconveyor passes around the pulleys l', the leaves are again treated, asthough they were gently shaken and in the travel of the conveyor theleaves are again subjected to humid air issuing from the loutlets v ofthe lower air distributor u, while the butts are again subjected tohumid air issuing from the outlets in the lower side of the central airdistributor.

The travel of the conveyor thus carries the tobacco through streams ofhumid air directed against the leaves and butts and, at the same time,gives the hands of tobacco a motion like gentle shaking, which operatesto spread the leaves forming the hands. The hands, the butts of whichare secured by means of the resilient, helical springs, are not injuredand the helical springs adapt themselves to the holding of hands ofdifferent sizes, while the supporting means serve to support theseparated leaves, holding the hands without injury to the leaves, whichin the initial stage of the conditioning treatment are in a dry andbrittle state. During the treatment of the tobacco the humid air, aswillbe understood, is supplied to the distributors through the conduitr, air box q and conduit t, while the pipe w also receives humid airfrom the air box. 'I'he air conditioner, which is desirably of the typehaving a fan for forcing humid air into and through the apparatus ratherthan for drawing it therethrough, is adjusted to maintain the desiredrelative humidity and dew-point, of

the air directed against the tobacco and within thev room A. The intakeof the conditioner is desirably fromthe room A, as indicated at i0,Figure 1, and under the conditions above given as desirable, theconditioner is adjusted to effect complete change 'of the air in theroom A about three times per minute, though under varying conditionscomplete change of air in room A may be desirably at the rate of one tofour times or more per minute.

It will be understood that the tobacco in motion in the air in room Aand subjected to the streams of air directed at it from the airdistributors absorbs moisture. Under the limitations of conditions oftemperature and hence of quantitative moisture content of the air, thetobacco will gradually absorb the requisite moisture within a period offrom about 4 to about 48 hours, depending upon the type andhygroscopicity of the tobacco under treatment. When the tobacco hasacquired the desired moisture contentl or, in other words, has beenproperly conditioned. it is removed from the conveyor, prepared forfabrication as by the removal of the stems, etc. and then fabricatedunder the conditions indicated, that is, in air at a temperaturedesirably about 5 F, higher than that obtaining in the conditioningroom.

vIt will be understood that air may be forced into the conditioning roomin such a manner as to cause circulation of air therein and about thetobacco in the carrier and that the streams of air from the airdistributors may be omitted, also it will be understood that theconveyor may be driven intermittently rather than continuously.

In connection with the method in accordance with this invention, Icontemplate the use of means for automatically regulating theksupply ofmoisture to the air supplied to the tobacco or of controlling thequantity of humid air and hence the quantity of moisture made availableto the tobacco when the tobacco has' become fully conditioned. Meansembodying such detail of this invention are illustrated by and have beendescribed with reference to Figures 5 and 6, from an inspection oi'which it will be noted that the cuttingl of! of thesupply of humid airto the air box q and hence to the conditioning room A is effectedthrough the medium of a butterfly valve s, which controla conduit r. thevalve being normally open to' `permit the passage of a desired amount ofhumid air and being closed to cut down the air supply through the actionof the increased weight of the moisture absorbed by the tobacco whenfully conditioned upon the rolls m' carried by the frame l, as shown inFigure 6. Alternatively, the supply of humid air may be shut oil'through control of the water supply to the conditioner, as shown inFigure 5. in which a valve on the water supply line is adapted to be'shut oi! through the increased weight of a sample of tobacco placed inthe conditioning room acting to throw the two way switch to energize asolenoid operably connected with the water valve. Y

' The method in accordance with this invention will be found to behighly advantageous in connection with the conditioning of tobacco,since colnpletecontrol of the conditions under which conditioningiscarried out is enabled and at the same time. due to motion. continuousor inter- 'lnittent imparted to the tobacco during conditioning theconditioning is effected with uniformity.

When conditioning of the tobacco is eifected as above outlined, thetobacco will be found to be in an optimum condition for fabrication andmay be fabricated without material loss of moisture. since the tobaccoduring the time required for fabrication is generallycooler than the airin which it is fabricated so that rapid evaporation doel not take place,with the result that the fabricated tobacco will be found to haveretained to a maximum degree its natural color, iiavor and elasticity.

It will be understood that the method embody-4 ing thisinventioninvolves from the broad standpoint thetreatment of tobacco for itsconditioning under regulated conditions of temperature and relativehumidity, which bear a relationship to the conditions of temperatureand, more particularly, of temperature and secondarily of relativehumidity" under which the conditioned tobacco is fabricated. Generally,the tobacco will be conditioned in air the wet bulb temperature of whichis lower than that of the air in which the tobacco is fabricated, andunder various conditions within the differential range specified, thedew-point in the conditioning room will be below that in the fabricatingroom F. More partlcularly, in accordance with the method the tobaccowill be conditioned in an atmosphere having high relative humidity, orsaturated with moisture at the temperature obtaining, which air will beat a temperature within about the range 0.5 1".-35 F. lower than the airin which the tobacco is fabricated. 'Ihe method according to thisinvention involves the relative conditions above outlined and, at thesame time, the irnparting of movement to the tobacco, which may becontinuous or intermittent, during the conditioning, which may beelfected under the conditions above outlined. or otherwise.

It will be understood that in accordance with this invention if thetobacco is not fabricated immediately on completion of its conditioning,it will be maintained in storage under' conditions annoso as outlinedherein for its conditioning until transferred for fabrication.

'I'he various novel and inventive features of the apparatus describedherein are not claimed herein. Such, however, form the subject-matter ofan application for patent filed by me October 12, 1933, serial No.693,320.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: l

1. The method for conditioning of tobacco which includes moving hands oftobaccov through a humid atmosphere and periodicallyinverting the hands.

2. The method for conditioning of tobacco which includes moving hands oftobacco through a circulating humid atmosphere and periodicallyinverting the hansb.

3. The method for conditioning of tobacco which includes moving hands oftobacco through a plurality of streams of conditioned air, periodicallyinverting the hands and directing streams of conditioned air into thehands during a periodic inversion. y

4. 'I'he method for conditioning of tobacco which includes moving handsof tobacco through a conditioned atmosphere, periodically inverting thehands and directing streams of conditioned `air into the hands during aperiodic inversion.

iz's

7. 'I'he method for conditioning of tobacco I which includes movinghands of tobacco through a humid atmosphere, periodically inverting thehands and spreading the leaves in. the hands as the hands are inverted.

8. The method for conditioning of tobacco which includes moving hands oftobacco through a humid atmosphere and inverting the hands.

9. The method for conditioning tobacco which includes subjecting handsof tobacco in movement in a circuitous path to a humid atmosphere at atemperature below that of the atmosphere to which the conditionedtobacco is subsequently subjected. the hands of tobacco being supportedfrom their butts only and variously in their path of movement extendingin a direction such that the leaves as they become moistened will iiexand separate under the influence of gravity.

l0. 'Ihe method for conditioning tobacco which phere at a temperaturebelow that of the atmosl phere in which the conditioned tobacco issubsequently treated. the hands of tobacco being supported 'from theirbutts only and variously in their movement extending in a direction suchthat the leaves as they become moistened will flex and separate underthe inuence of gravity.

13. The method for conditioning and fabricating tobacco which includessubjecting tobacco in hands, comprising a plurality of tobacco leaves.to a conditioned atmosphere at a temperature below that of theatmosphere in which the treated tobacco is subsequently fabricated untilthe conditioning of the tobacco is completed and when the conditioningof the tobacco is completed maintaining the conditioned tobacco in anatmosphere at a temperature below that of the atmosphere in which theconditioned tobacco is subsequently fabricated and then fabricating theconditioned tobacco in a conditioned atmosphere at a temperature abovethat of the atmosphere in which the tobacco was maintained aftercompletion of the conditioning treatment.

14. The method for conditioning and fabrieating tobacco which includessubjecting tobacco in hands, comprising a plurality of tobacco leaves,on a moving carrier,` to a conditioned atmosphere at a temperature belowthat of the atmosphere in which the treated tobacco is subsequentlyfabricated until the conditioning of the tobacco is completed, agitatingthe hands to promote separation of the leaves as they absorb moisture inthe conditioning treatment and when the conditioning ofthe tobacco iscompleted maintaining the conditioned tobacco in an atmosphere at a.temperature below that of the atmosphere in which the conditionedtobacco is subsequently fabricated and then fabricating the conditionedtobacco in a conditioned atmosphere at a tem.- perature above that ofthe atmosphere in which the tobacco was maintained after completion ofthe conditioning treatment.

l5. The method for conditioning and fabricating tobacco which includessubjecting the tobacco in hands, comprising a plurality of tobaccoleaves, to an atmosphere the temperature of which is lower and therelative huminity of which is higher than the temperature and relativehumidity of the atmosphere in which the treated tobacco is subsequentlyfabricated until the conditioning` of the tobacco is completed,agitating the hands to promote separation of the leaves as they absorbmoisture in the conditioning treatment and when the conditioning of thetobacco is completed maintaining the'conditioned tobacco in anatmosphere at a temperature below that ofthe atmosphere in which theconditioned tobacco is subsequently fabricated and then fabricating theconditioned tobacco in a conditioned atmosphere at a temperature abovethat of the atmosphere in which the tobacco was maintained aftercompletion of the conditioning treatment.

16. The method for conditioning and fabricating tobacco in accordancewith claim 14, characterized by the fact that the dew points of` theatmospheres in which the tobacco is conditioned and maintained after thecompletion of the conditioning treatment are lower than that of theatmosphere in which the tobacco is fabricated.

17. 'I'he method for conditioning and fabricating tobacco in accordancewith claim 13, characterized by the fact that the temperatures of theatmospheres in which the tobacco is conditioned and maintained aftercompletion of the conditioning treatment are within about the range 0.5"F.25 F. below that of the atmosphere in which the tobacco is fabricated.

18. The method for conditioning and fabricating tobacco in accordancewith claim 14, characterized by the fact that the temperatures of theconditioned atmospheres in which the tobacco is conditioned andmaintained after completion of the conditioning treatment are withinabout the range 40 lit-80. F. and that the temperature o! the atmospherein which the tobacco is ,fabricated is within about the range F.-85 F.

19. The method for conditioning and fabricating tobacco in accordancewith claim 14, characterized by the fact that the tobacco is conditionedand maintained after completion of the conditioning treatment in aconditioned atmosphere at a. temperature below about F. and that thetobacco is fabricated at a temperature above about '10 F. and having alower humidity than that at which the tobacco was treated andmaintained.

20. The method for conditioning and fabricatlng tobacco in accordancewith claim 14, characterized by the fact that the atmosphere in whichthe tobacco is conditioned is maintained substantially saturated withmoisture at the temperature obtaining. v

21. The method for conditioning and fabricating tobacco in accordancewith claim 13, characterized by the fact that during the conditioningtreatment the hands of tobacco are on a moving carrier and that thehands of tobacco are peliodically subjected to an opening action untilthe leaves` of the hands are substantially uniformly moistened.

22. The method for conditioning and fabricating tobacco in accordancewith claim 13, characterlzed by the fact that the hands of tobacco areperiodically inverted during the conditioning treatment.`

23. The method for conditioning and fabricating tobacco in accordancewith claim 13, characterized by the fact that in the conditioningtreatment the hands of tobacco are subjected to forceful jets ofconditioned air so positioned relative tothe hands of tobacco that thefull force of the jets will be received by the hands when the hands aredirectly in line with the jets.

24. The method for conditioning tobacco which I includes.: passing handslof tobacco leaves slowly through an atmosphere of conditioned air, thesaid atmosphere having a moisture content within about the rangegil-100% and being at a temperature such as to substantially retard theformation of water globules such as would tend t0 spot the leaves, andperiodically passing the hands into line with forceful jets ofconditioned air, the hands being positioned relative to the jets so`that substantially the full force of the jets will be received by thehands when they are directly in line with the jets.

25. The method for conditioning tobacco in accordance with claim 23,characterizedI by the fact that the atmosphere of the conditioned air inthe conditioning treatment has a temperature below 70 C.

26. The method of treating tobacco which includes moving a hand oftobacco through a forcible jet of conditioned air in a chamber, the handbeing positioned relative to the jet so that substantially the fullforce of the jet will be received by the hand when it is directly inline with the let.

27. The method of treating tobacco in accordance with claim 26,characterized by the fact thatr the hand of tobacco is on a movingcarrier and that it is agitated independently of the jet of conditionedair.

28. The method of treating tobacco in accordance with claim 26,characterized by the factthat the size of the jet of conditioned air isregulated to effect an even distribution of air over the 6 e umsotobaccoandbythefactthatthetobaccoisperiodically shaken independently ofthe jet.

39.1hemethodoftreatingtobaccoinaccordance withclaim 26,charactexizedbythefaet that l thehand of tobacco is agitated independently ofthejetofconditionedairwhilethehandoftobaccoisinlinewiththejetoi'oonditionedalr.x30.1hemethodoftreatingtobaccoinlcedamewlthclnim26,characterizedbytheiaetthat.

IOthejetofconditionedlirisdirectedintothe lmndfromthetipsoftheleaves.

31. Themethodoftreatingtobaceoinlordancewithlaim26,characterinedbyihcfactthnt thehandoitobaccoisina'pendantpitlonwhen )litreceivestheietofconditionednir.

32.Themethodoftreatingtoboccoinaordanoewithclaim26,characterinedbythefactthatthe let of conditioned air is received butt the handoftobaccoreceivesthesnidjetof e011-,V

ditioned air progressively along its length.

36. The method of treating tobacco in scoord- .35 ancewith claim 26,characterised bythe fectthat mamofcndiuoneamreivedbymenmoceivedbythehandsfromthetipsof whenthehnndsaredirectlyinlinewiththejetsandalsothatthehandswillreceivesubstantially l0thefullforceoi'thejetsatananglelateraliyon asidethereoi'. v

andnlsothatthehandswill receive substantially N thefullforceoftheietsatananglelaterallyon a side thereof and from their butt ends.

39. The methodfortreatingtobaccowhichimcludes subjecting tobacco inhands to a conditioned atmosphere at .a temperature below thatofthetohoccoatwhichthetreatedtobaccois subsequently treated andperiodically subjecting 'the hands of tobacco to forceful jets ofconditioned air, the hands being positioned relntiv'etothejetssotbatsubstantiallythefull forceof I0 the jets will be receivedby the hands when they -aredirectlyinlinewiththejetssndsubsequentlytreatingtbe tobacco in an atmosphere at a higher temperature. L Y RUSHD. TOU'IDN. 35

